MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Wednesday, expressing condolences after the recent earthquake in central Italy and offering Russia's assistance in coping with the aftermath, the Kremlin press service said.
"Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin noted that Russia shares the grief of the friendly Italian people and expressed readiness to render necessary assistance in the aftermath of the disaster," the press service said in a statement.